Frozen shoulder cause?

The precise cause of frozen shoulder is unclear – but many factors contribute to its development including:

• Metabolic syndromes (Diabetes or pre diabetes is the single biggest association)
• thyroid disorders
• Gender
• Age
• previous shoulder injuries.
• prolonged periods of shoulder immobility (post operative or injury, post mastectomy)
• disc bulge in the neck
• cardiopulmonary disease

Common Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder

• Persistent shoulder pain – often worse at night
• Gradual onset of stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Difficulty lifting the arm or reaching behind the back
• Painful sensation when trying to perform shoulder movements

Frozen Shoulder Stages

As previously discussed, adhesive capsulitis has a few stages:

1. Freezing Stage (Painful Stage):

The initial stage is marked by increasing pain, particularly at night. Shoulder movement becomes more restricted, and activities like combing hair or reaching behind the back can become challenging. This stage typically lasts around 2 to 9 months.

2. Frozen Stage (Adhesive Stage):

During this stage, the intensity of pain may decrease, but stiffness and limited range of motion become more pronounced. Everyday tasks requiring arm movement become significantly difficult. This stage generally lasts 4 to 12 months.

3. Thawing Stage (Recovery Stage):

Gradually, the shoulder starts regaining more movement. Activities become easier to perform – this phase can range from 12 – 42 months.

The severity and duration of each stage varies from person to person and as discussed depends on your metabolic health, cortisone use, age and gender and the consistency of rehabilitation exercise. A Clinical Myotherapist can help speed-up recovery of frozen shoulder by helping maintain movement competence and pain management.

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Adhesive Capsulitis Diagnosis

The primary diagnosis tools of frozen shoulder are a comprehensive assessment and health history.  Scans such as MRI are useful to rule out other potential causes of shoulder pain and stiffness.

A typical Myotherapy assessment for frozen shoulder includes evaluating your health history, assessing pain and range of motion, analysing muscle tension and posture, and observing functional limitations. This helps your Myotherapist develop a treatment plan using manual therapy, exercises, and self-care strategies which alleviate symptoms and improve shoulder mobility. Referral for medical evaluation and suitability for cortisone may be suggested.

What helps a frozen shoulder?

• Corticosteroid injections
• anti-inflammatory medications
• Manual therapy techniques
• targeted exercises under the guidance of a physical therapist or a Myotherapist, can aid in restoring shoulder mobility and strength.
• over-the-counter pain relievers

Myotherapy treatment at Knead Massage Brisbane offers a multi-faceted approach to address frozen shoulder. An expert Myotherapy treatment uses many techniques to reduce pain, restore mobility, and enhance shoulder function.

1. Massage and Soft Tissue Techniques:

Expert deep tissue massage targets areas of muscle tension and tightness around the shoulder joint. These techniques reduce pain, relax muscle restriction, improve circulation, and most importantly -improve ease of movement.

2. Trigger Point Dry Needling:

We use advanced dry needling techniques to stimulate certain trigger points in the shoulder, promoting muscle relaxation and pain relief.

3. Electrotherapy:

Electro dry needling techniques, used by Myotherapists at Knead Massage Brisbane, involve applying electrical currents to the needles. Electro stimulation can greatly help with pain reduction, muscle spasms, and blood flow.

4. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT):

Low Level Laser has been proven to increase production of ATP (adeno triphosphate by the mitochondria of the targeted tissue) – resulting in improved healing. In the context of frozen shoulder, Low Level Laser may help reduce inflammation, aid in tissue repair and provide relief from pain.

5. Exercise Rehabilitation:

An Expert Myotherapy treatment for frozen shoulder will involve targetted stretching and strengthening exercises which will assist with improved shoulder mobility as well as strengthen support structures.

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Conclusion

Adhesive capsulitis not only stops you doing things you love – it makes the simple tasks of life harder.

If you’re experiencing shoulder stiffness, pain and limited range of movement book a Myotherapy treatment soon and make your shoulder stiffness a memory.